The suspects, one of who is an ex-convict, were said to have operated at Cele Bus Stop, Monday.

Explaining how he was dispossessed of the cash, the victim said: “I was on my way to Ogun State when one of them stopped me, pretending to be looking for a particular place.

“I told him I didn’t know the place, that I was a stranger in the area. As I made to leave, one of them grabbed my bag from behind and took to his heels. The second one followed suit.

“I ran after them but could not catch up with them. Inside the bag were N7,500, two mobile phones, clothes and other personal effects. I had to discontinue the journey because all I had on me were gone.

“The following day, my mum chose to drive me through the same spot where my bag was snatched. Luckily for me, I saw the same guys drinking very close to the spot. I alighted from the car to confirm they were the ones.

“Luckily, I saw one RRS patrol car, flagged it down and narrated all that happened to them.”

Confession

During interrogation, the suspects Emmanuel Anyanwu, 39, an ex-convict and Kennedy Ujagbor, 42, a drug addict, who admitted to have attacked the victim, however, promised to return the stolen bag which they claimed was in Ketu area of the state.

Explaining their modus operandi, Anyanwu said: “We are swindlers. We are always on the street looking for people to defraud. Normally, what we do is tell our victim that we are foreigners with a huge consignment of mobile phones and stationery and that we were in search of marketers with enough money to buy the goods.

“In the process, we persuade our victims to show interest in buying the goods by dangling before them an irresistible offer. If they show interest, we would tell them to demonstrate their seriousness with a commitment by depositing their phones, money or jewellery. But this boy was smart that was why we snatched his bag.”

Confirming the arrest, Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, Dolapo Badmus, said that the suspects would be transferred to the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department, SCIID, Yaba, for further investigation.